Thimble-Like Nail File

ABSTRACT

A thimble-shaped tool and a textured surface designed to be used as a nail file. It uses the thumb of one hand to file the nails of the fingers on the same hand. The thimble-shaped tool may be designed to fit over a portion of a thumb or a portion of a finger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a nail apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view through line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view through line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention generally provides a nail file apparatus. Embodiments of the present invention may comprise thimble-shaped tools designed to be used as nail files. Much nail filing today is done with one person giving another person a manicure. However, nail filing one's own nails is still practiced by many people. Giving oneself a manicure requires that person to use both of their hands. The present invention provides to a novel apparatus for filing one's nails in an easier, faster and more discrete way. An embodiment of the present invention, which may be called “thumbz”, may be a nail filing device that primarily uses the thumb of one hand to file the nails of the fingers on the same hand.

An apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-4. The apparatus 10 may include a thumb guard member 12 and a textured surface 14 in contact with at least a portion of the thumb guard member 12.

The thumb guard member 12 may comprise a thimble-shaped structure. The thumb guard member 12 may be designed to fit over at least a portion of a thumb (not shown). For some embodiments, the thumb guard member 12 may be designed to fit over a portion of a finger (not shown).

For some embodiments, the thumb guard member 12 may comprise a metal, such as stainless steel or a malleable alloy. For some embodiments, the thumb guard member 12 may comprise a plastic, cardboard or other material.

The textured surface 14 may cover at least a portion of the thumb guard member 12. For some embodiments, the textured surface 14 may cover the outward facing surface of the thumb guard member 12. The outward facing surface may comprise the surface facing away from a thumb during operation of the apparatus 10.

The textured surface 14 may comprise a rough, sandpaper type texture. For some embodiments, the textured surface 14 may comprise an abrasive, such as emery. For some embodiments, the textured surface 14 may comprise a flexible strip of cardboard coated in a hard ground mineral. For some embodiments, the textured surface 14 may comprise etched metal. For some embodiments, the textured surface 14 may comprise sandpaper. The textured surface 14 may be designed to be used for filing nails.

For some embodiments, the textured surface 14 may be integral to the thumb guard member 12. For example, for embodiments wherein the thumb guard member 12 comprises a metal, the textured surface 14 may comprise metal etching.

For some embodiments, the textured surface 14 may be attached to the thumb guard member 12. For some embodiments, the textured surface 14 may be affixed to the thumb guard member 12 using glue. For example, for embodiments wherein the textured surface 14 comprises a flexible strip of cardboard coated in a hard ground mineral, the textured surface 14 may be glued to the thumb guard member 12.

The way a person would use the present invention may be very simple. The person would place the thimble-like nail file (apparatus 10) over their thumb and begin to file each finger nail on the same hand. The person can use a smaller size thimble-like nail file and place it over the index finger to file the thumb nail.

Embodiments of the present invention may provide a solution to two hand nail filing. The thimble-like tool (apparatus 10) can cover the thumb while the metal etching, or extremely hard ground mineral, enable the thumb to file the finger nail. The thumb of one hand can be used to file the nails of the fingers on the same hand.

A standard nail file uses one hand to file the nails on the opposite hand; wasting time and energy. Embodiments of the present invention make it possible to file the nails of both hands at the same time. The standard nail file, as it is currently used, is both cumbersome and inefficient. When a person is filing their nails, they cannot be doing anything other than filing their nails. With embodiments of the present invention, a person can file their nails with one hand while keeping their other hand free.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

We claim:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a thumb guard member; and a textured surface in contact with at least a portion of said thumb guard member, said textured surface designed for filing nails. 